Folding chair



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

JLGORNELL. FOLDING CHAIR- No. 514,445 Patenfed Feb. 13, 1894.

M I Jase/ 72 C'orizeZZ ms NAUONAL mnocmpwnc COMPANY.

WkfiHlNGTON, n c.

{No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. CORNELL. FOLDING GHAIR f M 1? 8 1|. r h w m 1 d J 4 m M w P w m k QM THE mmumu. Lmummr-nma couPANY.

UNITED STATES PATENT Pinon JOSEPH CORNELL, OF POTSDAM, NE'W YORK.

FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,445, dated February 13,1894.

Application filed March 23, 1893. $erial No. 467,344. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOSEPH CORNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Potsdam, in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Folding Chair, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in folding chairs, and

has for its object to simplify the construction of the device illustrated and described in Patent No. 488,115,,granted to me December 13, 1892, to provide for a complete folding of the chair, also for an adjustment of the same and an accomplishment of the latter with ease to the occupant and without the necessity of leaving the chair.

The invention consists of the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved chair arranged as an ordinary rocking chair. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the chair showing the back adjusted. Fig 3 is a similar view of the chair folded. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of the chair. 7

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the seat, which is composed of sidebars 2 connected at the front by a front bar 3, and at the rear by a rear bar 4, the said front bar being extended laterally and on each side formed with a circumferential groove 5. The rear end of the seat is pivotally connected, on opposite sides, to uprights 6, of the back 7, and the lower ends of said uprights are of themselves loosely connected to rockers 8, by angle-plates 9, which are pivoted to said rockers and to said uprights. By means of the angle-plates it will be seen that the uprights may be swung to a position so that their ends will abut against the upper sides of the rockers and be rigidly supported thereby, or by swinging the uprights rearward their lower ends will be raised above the rockers, and the uprights, as a whole, permitted to collapse rearward thereupon. Inclined braces 10 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the outer front ends of the said rockers 8, and the upper ends of the same are secured to each other by a crossrod 11, that extends across the back and is arranged to adjustably engage toothed or ratchet blocks or plates 12 secured to the rear edges of the uprights 6, and by means of which the back of the chair may be freely adjusted to different angles of inclination; the said cross rod 11 being inseparably held in connection with the said ratchet blocks or plates 12, and are thereby at all times in such position that it will be necessary for the same to engage the said blocks or plates and prevent falling of the chair by accidental disengagement of the said parts. Supports 13 have their upper ends pivotally engaging the circumferential grooves 5, of the said front bar3, and at their lower ends are pivotally attached to the inner opposing sides of the braces 10.

Gross-rods or rounds are employed in connection with the difierent parts of the chair as thus far described to strengthen the parts thereof, and the seat and back are supplied with a suitable upholstering or covering, which will be regulated in its nature in proportion to the requirements or use as well as the cost of the chair. Thus far the chair is of about the same construction as that set forth by the aforesaid patent.

In the improvement the foot-rest is dispensed with and arms are supplied in connection with the remaining features.

To the inner sides of the uprights 6 are secured pivotally the rear ends of arm-rests 14: that are properly upholstered and cushioned and supplied at the inner opposing sides of the front ends of the same with depending blocks 15, to the outer sides of which are pivoted the upper ends of uprights 16, the latter being suitably ornamented and formed and having their lower ends pivotally attached to the inner opposing sides of the braces 10.

As shown in Fig. 2, the back of the chair may be properly adjusted to change the angle thereof and permit of a reclining position of the occupant.

As shown in Fig. 3, the chair, together with the arm attachment, may be folded down into compact form for storage or transportation,

and when it is desired to fold the chair in this position the rod 11 is disconnected from the toothed or ratchet blocks or plates 12, and a pressure exerted on the back to bring the same and the parts connected thereto down on the rockers.

The present form of chair is much more positive in its action than that set forth by the aforesaid patent and is of greater strength and durability.

The reclining position of the chair, as shown in Fig. 2, provides for a stationary easy position of the chair, and in this arrangement the rear ends of the rockers 8 rest upon and are held on the floor to serve as a comfortable means of rest for the occupant.

While occupying the chair a person may adjust the same to a desired inclination by throwing his weight to the front of the chair and lifting on the arms, which being pivotally connected with the braces 10 will serve to adjust the latter at their rear ends in the various notches of the rack-bars 12.

It will be observed that the uprights 16 bear at their upper ends against the outer surfaces of the depending blocks 15, and at their lower ends against the inner surfaces of the braces 10, and by this means forcing outwardly of the said uprights 16 is prevented by pressure against the inner opposing sides of the same, and they are thereby caused to retain their normal position at all times, and wear on the pivots is obviated. The said blocks permit the arrangement set forth because they are located in line with the inner edges of the front parts of the arm-rests 14:, and thereby leaving a clear space under the said rests onthe outer sides of the said blocks and at the same time covering the upper ends of the uprights 16.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is- In a chair of the class described, the combination with the rockers 8, the angle-plates pivoted at their lower ends to the rockers, the standards 6 pivoted at their lower ends to the upper ends of the angle-plates and adapted when elevated to abut against the upper sides of the rockers and when lowered to be swung away from said rockers, the rack-bars 12 on the rear sides of the standards, the inclined braces lOpivoted to the rockers, and the transverse connecting-rod between the rear ends of the braces and in rear of the standards and adapted to engage with the rack-bars, of the arms 15 pivoted at their rear ends to the standards 6, the links 16 pivotally connected at their upper ends to the front ends of the arms and at their lower ends to intermediate points of the braces 10, the seat-bars 2 pivoted to the standards 6 below the arms, and the supports 13 pivotally connected to the front ends of the seat-bars and at theirlower ends to the braces 

